EFL Writing Studies in Colombia Between 1990 and 2020: A Qualitative Research Synthesis
La investigación en escritura en inglés como lengua extranjera en Colombia entre 1990 y 2020: una síntesis cualitativa
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.15446/profile.v25n1.94798Keywords:
Colombia, EFL writing, qualitative research synthesis (en)Colombia, escritura en inglés como lengua extranjera, síntesis cualitativa de investigación (es)
This article provides a comprehensive qualitative synthesis of EFL writing studies published in Colombian journals between 1990 and 2020. We synthesised 63 research reports regarding authorship, publication year, focus, methodology (context, participants, research paradigm, design, and data collection methods and analyses), validity, reliability, ethics, findings, limitations, and further research. Our findings reveal that EFL writing is a developing research area in Colombia, characterised as a predominantly qualitative inquiry into adult writing instruction and learning at universities. From the findings, we propose a research agenda and some guidelines for authors and reviewers to enhance and evaluate research reports.
Este estudio presenta los resultados de una síntesis cualitativa de investigaciones en escritura en inglés publicadas en revistas académicas colombianas entre 1990 y 2020. Se sintetizaron 63 reportes de investigación con respecto a autor, año de publicación, objetivos, metodología (contexto, participantes, paradigma de investigación, diseño, métodos y análisis de datos), validez, confiabilidad, ética, resultados, limitaciones e investigación futura. Los hallazgos sugieren que en Colombia el estudio de la escritura en inglés es un área en desarrollo caracterizada por un enfoque predominantemente cualitativo centrado en la enseñanza y aprendizaje de la escritura en adultos universitarios. A partir de los hallazgos, se propone una agenda de investigación y unos criterios para mejorar y evaluar los reportes de investigación.
References
Atkinson, D. (2011). A sociocognitive approach to second language acquisition: How mind, body, and world work together in learning additional languages. In D. Atkinson (Ed.), Alternative approaches to second language acquisition (pp. 143–166). Routledge. https://doi.org/10.4324/9780203830932
Cameron, L., & Larsen-Freeman, D. (2007). Complex systems and applied linguistics. International Journal of Applied Linguistics, 17(2), 226–240. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1473-4192.2007.00148.x
Chong, S. W., & Plonsky, L. (2021). A primer on qualitative research synthesis in TESOL. TESOL Quarterly. https://doi.org/10.1002/tesq.3030
Chong, S. W., & Reinders, H. (2021). A methodological review of qualitative research syntheses in CALL: The state-of-the-art. System, 103, 102646. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.system.2021.102646
Creswell, J. W., & Creswell, J. D. (2018). Research design: Qualitative, quantitative, and mixed methods approaches (5th ed.). Sage.
Friedman, D. (2012). How to collect and analyse qualitative data. In A. Mackey & S. M. Gass (Eds.), Research methods in second language acquisition: A practical guide (pp. 180–200). Wiley-Blackwell. https://doi.org/10.1002/9781444347340.ch10
Giraldo, F. (2019). Language assessment practices and beliefs: Implications for language assessment literacy. HOW Journal, 26(1), 35–61. https://doi.org/10.19183/how.26.1.481
Guapacha-Chamorro, M. E. (2022). Cognitive validity evidence of computer-and paper-based writing tests and differences in the impact on EFL test-takers in classroom assessment. Assessing Writing, 51, 100594. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.asw.2021.100594
Hyland, K. (2010). Teaching and researching writing (2nd ed.). Pearson.
Hyland, K. (2016). Methods and methodologies in second language writing research. System, 59, 116–125. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.system.2016.05.002
Kormos, J. (2012). The role of individual differences in L2 writing. Journal of Second Language Writing, 21(4), 390–403. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jslw.2012.09.003
Manchón, R. M., & Matsuda, P. K. (2016). Handbook of second and foreign language writing. De Gruyter Mouton. https://doi.org/10.1515/9781614511335
Matsuda, P. K. (2015). Identity in written discourse. Annual Review of Applied Linguistics, 35, 140–159. https://doi.org/10.1017/S0267190514000178
Ministerio de Educación Nacional. (2014). Colombia very well! Programa nacional de inglés 2015–2025: Documento de socialización. Imprenta Nacional.
O’Connor, C., & Joffe, H. (2020). Intercoder reliability in qualitative research: Debates and practical guidelines. International Journal of Qualitative Methods, 19, 1–13. https://doi.org/10.1177/1609406919899220
Ong, J. (2014). How do planning time and task conditions affect metacognitive processes of L2 writers? Journal of Second Language Writing, 23, 17–30. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jslw.2013.10.002
Pallant, J. (2016). SPSS survival manual: A step by step guide to data analysis using IBM SPSS (6th ed.). Allen & Unwin.
Pelaez-Morales, C. (2017). L2 writing scholarship in JSLW: An updated report of research published between 1992 and 2015. Journal of Second Language Writing, 38, 9–19. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jslw.2017.09.001
Phakiti, A., & Paltridge, B. (2015). Approaches and methods in applied linguistics research. In B. Paltridge & A. Phakiti (Eds.), Research methods in applied linguistics: A practical guide (pp. 19–33). Bloomsbury.
Riazi, M., Shi, L., & Haggerty, J. (2018). Analysis of the empirical research in the Journal of Second Language Writing at its 25th year (1992–2016). Journal of Second Language Writing, 41, 41–54. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jslw.2018.07.002
Richards, J. C., & Rodgers, T. S. (2014). Approaches and methods in language teaching (3rd ed.). Cambridge University Press. https://doi.org/10.1017/9781009024532
Shaw, S. D., & Weir, C. J. (2007). Examining writing: Research and practice in assessing second language writing (Vol. 26). Cambridge University Press.
Silva, T. (2016). An overview of the development of the infrastructure of second language writing studies. In R. M. Manchón & P. K. Matsuda (Eds.), Handbook of second and foreign language writing (pp. 19–43). De Gruyter Mouton. https://doi.org/10.1515/9781614511335-004
Tomlinson, B. (Ed.). (2011). Materials development in language teaching (2nd ed.). Cambridge University Press.
Weigle, S. C. (2016). Second language writing assessment. In R. M. Manchón & P. K. Matsuda (Eds.), Handbook of second and foreign language writing (pp. 473–493). De Gruyter Mouton. https://doi.org/10.1515/9781614511335-025
Zheng, Y., & Yu, S. (2019). What has been assessed in writing and how? Empirical evidence from Assessing Writing (2000–2018). Assessing Writing, 42, 100421. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.asw.2019.100421
How to Cite
APA
ACM
ACS
ABNT
Chicago
Harvard
IEEE
MLA
Turabian
Vancouver
Download Citation
CrossRef Cited-by
1. Yimmy Alexander Hoyos Pipicano. (2024). Exploring standardized tests washback from the decolonial option: implications for rural teachers and students. Cogent Arts & Humanities, 11(1) https://doi.org/10.1080/23311983.2023.2300200.
2. María Guapacha-Chamorro, Orlando Chaves-Varón. (2024). Scoring and Consequential Validity Evidence of Computer- and Paper-Based Writing Tests in Times of Change. Chinese Journal of Applied Linguistics, 47(3), p.450. https://doi.org/10.1515/CJAL-2024-0305.
3. María Eugenia Guapacha-Chamorro. (2025). The Development of Statistical Literacies in Colombian Applied Linguistics Teacher-Researchers. Profile: Issues in Teachers' Professional Development, 27(2), p.65. https://doi.org/10.15446/profile.v27n2.117115.
4. Shiyu Yang. (2025). Sports and education integration tennis player selection and personalized training path planning based on artificial intelligence technology. 2025 International Conference on Artificial Intelligence, Computer, Data Sciences and Applications (ACDSA). , p.1. https://doi.org/10.1109/ACDSA65407.2025.11166307.
Dimensions
PlumX
Article abstract page views
Downloads
License
Copyright (c) 2023 María Eugenia Guapacha Chamorro, Orlando Chaves Varón

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.
You are authorized to copy and redistribute the material in any medium or format as long as you give appropriate credit to the authors of the articles and to Profile: Issues in Teachers' Professional Development as original source of publication. The use of the material for commercial purposes is not allowed. If you remix, transform, or build upon the material, you may not distribute the modified material.
Authors retain the intellectual property of their manuscripts with the following restriction: first publication is granted to Profile: Issues in Teachers' Professional Development.






























